Story Highlights

LAKESIDE – When a program struggles, keeping kids involved and actively wanting to play is as difficult. For the Danbury Lakers, a quartet of three-year letter winners have stayed tried and true to the program.

Taylon Molnar, Mike Stys, James Dorko, and Shay Rickard return for one last opportunity to lead the Lakers after a disappointing 2013 season.

"I feel like there is definitely pressure on us," Rickard said. "A lot of people look up to you and look to you to see what you're doing."

Also a senior on the team is John Brooks, who is a two-year letter winner. The quartet has seen the program struggle to an 8-22 record in their three seasons and are eager to lead their younger teammates to greater successes.

"We show them what needs to be done and in turn, that can lead to success," Dorko said about the younger kids coming into the varsity program. "We push them to do the right thing. We're doing stuff the right way."

Head coach Bryan Dudash is entering his third season and said the Lakers are benefitting from his veterans’ experience and leadership.

"We put these kids through a tough offseason to see exactly what they were made off," Dudash said. "They are our captains. They are our leaders. They are the ones picking kids up for weight lifting and making sure everyone is on time and everyone gets home. I'm proud of them."

Rickard will man the defensive line while Stys, Molnar and Brooks will be in the linebacking corps. In the secondary, Dorko will see a majority of his time at cornerback.

"We're sticking to the basics," Rickard said. "There won't be as much confusion this year."

Stys says he and his classmates will have to set the example, win or lose.

“We have to play the whole game,” Stys said. “We can't knock off in the second half. If we play a whole game, we'll be alright... The younger guys look up to us for help and ask questions.”